Volunteering in the Armed Forces

Verified 24 October 2025 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

You are a French national and you want to learn about the professions of arms and defense? Volunteering in the armed forces allows you to commit for a minimum of 3 months. You can serve in the army, air force, navy, gendarmerie or army health service. You perceive a balance Monthly. We tell you what you need to know.

Volunteering in the armed forces allows us to learn about the professions of arms and defense.

You enlist with one of the following armies:

  • Army
  • National Navy
  • Air Force
  • National Gendarmerie
  • Army Health Service.

If you have any doubts about your military vocation, you can ask to go through a period of volunteering before signing a contract of voluntary enlistment in the armed forces.

Only the contract of employment will make you a professional soldier.

Please note

If you are under 25, the Voluntary Military Service (VMS) allows you to acquire training or professional experience.

To volunteer in the armies, you must complete the 5 conditions following:

Access to volunteering in the armed forces is selective.

It depends on the following:

  • Number of posts proposed
  • Physical Tests
  • Academic skills (depending on the position proposed) for aspirants.

To become an army volunteer, the steps depend on the army you wish to join:

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Army

You must register by contacting an Armed Forces Information and Recruitment Center (Cirfa).

Who shall I contact

National Navy

To register, you must contact an Armed Forces Information and Recruitment Center (Cirfa).

Air Force

To register, you must contact an Armed Forces Information and Recruitment Center (Cirfa).

National Gendarmerie

To register, you must contact the National Gendarmerie.

You must meet conditions and participate in selection tests.

Army Health Service

To apply, you must contact the local Human Resources Office (HRO) of the Army Health Service nearest you.

Your volunteer contract depends on the army you join:

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Army

As a volunteer, you sign a contract with the ministry of armies.

This contract is for one minimum 3 months.

You are subject to a trial period, the duration of which varies according to that of your contract.

The length of your trial period is, depending on the duration of the contract, one of the following:

  • 3 weeks for a contract of less than 4 months
  • 1 month for a contract with a duration of 4 months or more and less than 1 year
  • 3 months for a 1-year contract
  • 6 months for a contract of more than 1 year.

The trial period is renewable once, for reasons of health or insufficient training.

The trial period may also be extended if required by defense security. In this case, the trial period may not exceed one of the following durations:

  • 2 months for a contract of less than 4 months
  • 3 months for a contract with a duration of 4 months or more and less than 1 year
  • 9 months for a 1-year contract
  • 1 year for a contract of more than 1 year.

FYI  

The military authority where you can terminate without notice to your contract during the trial period.

National Navy

As a volunteer, you sign a contract with the ministry of armies.

This contract is for one minimum 3 months.

You are subject to a trial period, the duration of which varies according to that of your contract.

The length of your trial period is, depending on the duration of the contract, one of the following:

  • 3 weeks for a contract of less than 4 months
  • 1 month for a contract with a duration of 4 months or more and less than 1 year
  • 3 months for a 1-year contract
  • 6 months for a contract of more than 1 year.

The trial period is renewable once, for reasons of health or insufficient training.

The trial period may also be extended if required by defense security. In this case, the trial period may not exceed one of the following durations:

  • 2 months for a contract of less than 4 months
  • 3 months for a contract with a duration of 4 months or more and less than 1 year
  • 9 months for a 1-year contract
  • 1 year for a contract of more than 1 year.

FYI  

The military authority where you can terminate without notice to your contract during the trial period.

Air Force

As a volunteer, you sign a contract with the ministry of armies.

This contract is for one minimum 3 months.

You are subject to a trial period, the duration of which varies according to that of your contract.

The length of your trial period is, depending on the duration of the contract, one of the following:

  • 3 weeks for a contract of less than 4 months
  • 1 month for a contract with a duration of 4 months or more and less than 1 year
  • 3 months for a 1-year contract
  • 6 months for a contract of more than 1 year.

The trial period is renewable once, for reasons of health or insufficient training.

The trial period may also be extended if required by defense security. In this case, the trial period may not exceed one of the following durations:

  • 2 months for a contract of less than 4 months
  • 3 months for a contract with a duration of 4 months or more and less than 1 year
  • 9 months for a 1-year contract
  • 1 year for a contract of more than 1 year.

FYI  

The military authority where you can terminate without notice to your contract during the trial period.

National Gendarmerie

As a volunteer, you sign a contract with the Ministry of the Interior.

This contract is for one minimum 3 months.

You are subject to a trial period, the duration of which varies according to that of your contract.

The length of your trial period is, depending on the duration of the contract, one of the following:

  • 3 weeks for a contract of less than 4 months
  • 1 month for a contract with a duration of 4 months or more and less than 1 year
  • 3 months for a 1-year contract
  • 6 months for a contract of more than 1 year.

The trial period is renewable once, for reasons of health or insufficient training.

The trial period may also be extended if required by defense security. In this case, the trial period may not exceed one of the following durations:

  • 2 months for a contract of less than 4 months
  • 3 months for a contract with a duration of 4 months or more and less than 1 year
  • 9 months for a 1-year contract
  • 1 year for a contract of more than 1 year.

FYI  

The military authority where you can terminate without notice to your contract during the trial period.

Army Health Service

As a volunteer, you sign a contract with the ministry of armies.

This contract is for one minimum 3 months.

You are subject to a trial period, the duration of which varies according to that of your contract.

The length of your trial period is, depending on the duration of the contract, one of the following:

  • 3 weeks for a contract of less than 4 months
  • 1 month for a contract with a duration of 4 months or more and less than 1 year
  • 3 months for a 1-year contract
  • 6 months for a contract of more than 1 year.

The trial period is renewable once, for reasons of health or insufficient training.

The trial period may also be extended if required by defense security. In this case, the trial period may not exceed one of the following durations:

  • 2 months for a contract of less than 4 months
  • 3 months for a contract with a duration of 4 months or more and less than 1 year
  • 9 months for a 1-year contract
  • 1 year for a contract of more than 1 year.

FYI  

The military authority where you can terminate without notice to your contract during the trial period.

Discipline

As a volunteer, you are subject to the discipline general in the armies.

This regulation defines the rights and duties common to all members in the discipline field.

You are also subject to permissions military personnel.

Remuneration

Your activity as an army volunteer is remunerated.

You touch a monthly balance.

The amount depends on your rank.

Tableau - Monthly amount of pay

Grade

Monthly balance

Soldier (or sailor)

€791.92

Corporal (or Petty Officer of 2e class)

€822.03

Master Corporal (or Petty Officer of 1re class)

€867.07

Sergeant (or Petty Officer)

€912.26

Aspirant

€937.30

FYI  

As a gendarmerie volunteer, you also receive a special allowance.

As a volunteer, you also benefit from various benefits in kind (meals, transport).

Progress

As a volunteer, you initially commit yourself as a soldier.

You can then be promoted to the rank of sergeant.

You may be appointed to the rank of aspirant if you have completed training.

Please note

As a volunteer, you can get the Validation of Experience (VAE) for your experience during volunteering.

If you want to renew your contract, you must do so request in writing.

You must contact the department with which the registration was made.

You must meet a deadline which depends on the duration of your contract.

This time limit is one of the following:

  • At least 1 month before the end if your contract is less than 1 year
  • At least 3 months before the end if your contract is 1 year or more.

Early Completion

Your volunteer contract ends before its term in the following cases:

  • Professional commitment in the armies
  • Health Reason
  • Disciplinary ground
  • Loss of French nationality.

FYI  

You can request the early termination of your contract in writing.

End of contract and operational reserve

Your contract ends on the fixed term.

If you volunteer until the end of your contract, you can then join the armies operational reserve.

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